Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Japan
This blog post covers the cost of residential buildable land in Japan in 2026, with neighborhood-level pricing, plot size estimates, and practical budget ranges.
We constantly update this article so the numbers you see here reflect the latest available data for 2026.
Whether you are considering Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, or a quieter regional city, you will find clear and comparable figures below.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our real estate pack about Japan.
A quick summary table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Most expensive neighborhood for land in Japan | Minato, Tokyo (¥2,800,000 per square meter) |
| Most affordable neighborhood for land in Japan | Okinawa, Naha outskirts (¥200,000 per square meter) |
| Average land price per square meter across Japan neighborhoods | ¥1,120,000 |
| Median plot price across Japan neighborhoods | ¥120,000,000 |
| Lowest realistic starting budget for land in Japan | ¥15,000,000 (Okinawa, Naha outskirts) |
| Most expensive plot size category in Japan | Large plot in Minato, Tokyo (¥700,000,000) |
| Most affordable plot size category in Japan | Small plot in Okinawa, Naha outskirts (¥20,000,000) |
| Average price for a small plot of land in Japan | ¥112,000,000 |
| Average price for a medium plot of land in Japan | ¥168,000,000 |
| Average price for a large plot of land in Japan | ¥280,000,000 |
| Price gap between most and least expensive Japan neighborhoods | ¥2,600,000 per square meter |
| Price dispersion across Japan land neighborhoods | 14x (Minato is roughly 14 times more expensive than Okinawa outskirts) |
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Japan neighborhoods in 2026 ranked by residential land purchase price
This table ranks the top neighborhoods in Japan by residential land purchase price, from the most expensive to the most affordable.
For each neighborhood, the table includes the average price per square meter, the median plot price, the starting budget, the average price for a small plot, a medium plot, and a large plot, the typical land use, the key advantages, the key drawbacks, and the market segment.
Finally, please note you'll find much more detailed data in our real estate pack about Japan.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Average Price per Square Meter | Median Plot Price | Starting Budget | Average Price for a Small Plot | Average Price for a Medium Plot | Average Price for a Large Plot | Typical Land Use | Key Pros | Key Cons | Market Segment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minato (Tokyo) | ¥2,800,000 | ¥420,000,000 | ¥250,000,000 | ¥280,000,000 | ¥420,000,000 | ¥700,000,000 | Luxury custom homes | Central Tokyo location, full utilities, flat terrain, strong resale demand, and flexible premium zoning | Extremely high entry cost, very limited availability, strict regulations, and small plot sizes are common | Prime Land |
| 2 | Chiyoda (Tokyo) | ¥2,500,000 | ¥375,000,000 | ¥220,000,000 | ¥250,000,000 | ¥375,000,000 | ¥625,000,000 | Prestige residential builds | Ultra-central access, top infrastructure, high prestige, and stable long-term land value in Tokyo | Very limited supply, strict zoning rules, tiny plots, and intense competition from premium buyers | Prime Land |
| 3 | Shibuya (Tokyo) | ¥2,200,000 | ¥330,000,000 | ¥180,000,000 | ¥220,000,000 | ¥330,000,000 | ¥550,000,000 | Urban luxury homes | Excellent transport connectivity, strong buyer demand, vibrant neighborhood, and high resale liquidity | Street noise, traffic congestion, irregular plot shapes, and expensive land preparation costs | Prime Land |
| 4 | Meguro (Tokyo) | ¥1,300,000 | ¥195,000,000 | ¥100,000,000 | ¥130,000,000 | ¥195,000,000 | ¥325,000,000 | Custom home builds | Close to central Tokyo areas, highly desirable address, and strong resale market for residential land | Sloped terrain in some parts, and higher land cost compared to other Tokyo suburbs at similar distances | High-Value Land |
| 5 | Setagaya (Tokyo) | ¥1,200,000 | ¥180,000,000 | ¥90,000,000 | ¥120,000,000 | ¥180,000,000 | ¥300,000,000 | Family home builds | Larger plots available, quieter residential zoning, good schools, and consistently strong demand in Tokyo | Greater distance from central Tokyo, rising prices, and limited availability of large plots | High-Value Land |
| 6 | Kichijoji (Tokyo) | ¥900,000 | ¥135,000,000 | ¥70,000,000 | ¥90,000,000 | ¥135,000,000 | ¥225,000,000 | Lifestyle home builds | Popular residential area in Tokyo, parks nearby, and strong buyer demand year after year | Limited land supply, rising prices, and smaller plots than in outer Tokyo neighborhoods | High-Value Land |
| 7 | Osaka (Kita Ward) | ¥700,000 | ¥105,000,000 | ¥60,000,000 | ¥70,000,000 | ¥105,000,000 | ¥175,000,000 | Urban residential builds | Major city center in Japan, strong rental potential, and solid infrastructure throughout the ward | Smaller plots than regional cities, urban noise, and commercial pressure on residential land use | Mid-Range Land |
| 8 | Yokohama (Kanagawa) | ¥600,000 | ¥90,000,000 | ¥50,000,000 | ¥60,000,000 | ¥90,000,000 | ¥150,000,000 | Suburban family homes | Coastal city with good transport links to Tokyo, and relatively larger plots for the greater Tokyo area | Some hillside terrain, distance to central Tokyo, and varying infrastructure quality between neighborhoods | Mid-Range Land |
| 9 | Fukuoka (Chuo Ward) | ¥400,000 | ¥60,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥40,000,000 | ¥60,000,000 | ¥100,000,000 | Residential development | Fast-growing city in Japan, strong demand, and much more affordable than Tokyo or Osaka | Typhoon exposure, rising land prices, and limited prime land availability in the central ward | Mid-Range Land |
| 10 | Nagoya (Naka Ward) | ¥350,000 | ¥52,500,000 | ¥25,000,000 | ¥35,000,000 | ¥52,500,000 | ¥87,500,000 | Residential builds | Major industrial hub in Japan, stable land demand, and moderate pricing compared to Tokyo and Osaka | Less international appeal than Tokyo or Osaka, and slower price growth over the past decade | Affordable Land |
| 11 | Sapporo (Chuo Ward) | ¥250,000 | ¥37,500,000 | ¥20,000,000 | ¥25,000,000 | ¥37,500,000 | ¥62,500,000 | Detached homes | Large plots available at affordable prices, good urban planning, and a well-organized city in northern Japan | Harsh winters, lower resale liquidity, and slower land value appreciation compared to Tokyo | Affordable Land |
| 12 | Okinawa (Naha outskirts) | ¥200,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥15,000,000 | ¥20,000,000 | ¥30,000,000 | ¥50,000,000 | Retirement homes | Scenic environment, relaxed zoning rules, and the lowest entry cost for residential land in Japan | Typhoon risk, infrastructure gaps in some areas, and lower resale liquidity than mainland Japan | Entry-Level Land |
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Key insights about land purchase prices in Japan
Insights
- Land in Tokyo's prime wards (Minato, Chiyoda, Shibuya) costs more than ¥2,000,000 per square meter in 2026, placing these Japan neighborhoods in a pricing tier of their own.
- A plot of land in Minato, Tokyo is roughly 14 times more expensive per square meter than a similar plot in Okinawa's Naha outskirts, showing the extreme geographic price gap across Japan.
- The entry budget for residential land in central Tokyo starts around ¥90,000,000, which is six times higher than the starting budget in Okinawa at ¥15,000,000.
- Osaka's Kita Ward land prices in 2026 are roughly three to four times lower than central Tokyo, making Osaka a more accessible option for buyers who want to live in a major Japanese city.
- Fukuoka's Chuo Ward is one of the fastest-growing land markets among Japan's regional cities, with prices around ¥400,000 per square meter and strong demand from both local and outside buyers.
- Sapporo offers the largest residential plots relative to price in Japan, but harsh winters and slower appreciation mean buyers trade affordability for lower long-term growth.
- Plot sizes shrink significantly in Tokyo compared to regional Japanese cities. In central Tokyo, a "large" plot is around 250 square meters, while in regional cities the same budget buys much more space.
- Setagaya in Tokyo offers a practical balance between price and livability. Land there costs about ¥1,200,000 per square meter, which is roughly half the price of Minato while still being in Tokyo.
- Land scarcity is the main driver of Tokyo land prices, more than construction costs. In a city where almost every plot is already built on, available residential land commands a premium simply because supply is so limited.
- Japan's residential land market in 2026 follows a clear three-tier structure: Tokyo prime wards at the top, major regional cities (Osaka, Yokohama, Fukuoka) in the middle, and smaller cities (Sapporo, Nagoya, Okinawa) at the entry level.
- Coastal cities like Yokohama maintain strong land demand in 2026 because of their proximity to Tokyo. Yokohama land costs around ¥600,000 per square meter, roughly one-fourth of central Tokyo prices.
- Mid-range land markets in Japan cluster between ¥350,000 and ¥700,000 per square meter, which includes cities like Nagoya, Fukuoka, Yokohama, and Osaka outside of prime districts.
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About our methodology
We also believe it is important to show our reasoning. It is one of the ways we make our work solid, transparent, and rigorous, just as you will see in our real estate pack about Japan.
First, please note that this data is updated regularly, so what you see here reflects the current values for the Japan residential land market as of today.
In order to get reliable data on land prices in Japan, we applied a strict source filter. We only used authoritative, verifiable sources like the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the National Tax Agency, not random listings or unsupported figures. More on that point below.
For each neighborhood in Japan, we aggregated the freshest residential land price data available. When possible, we cross-checked multiple sources to confirm the same price range.
This allowed us to estimate the average price per square meter and the median plot price for each neighborhood across Japan.
We also calculated the starting budget, which represents the lowest realistic entry point to buy a residential buildable plot of land in that Japan neighborhood. This is not the cheapest possible listing, but a real, achievable floor for a standard land purchase.
For each plot size category, we estimated an average purchase price based on local market conventions in Japan. The typical size range for a small, medium, and large plot can vary across neighborhoods, so we adapted our estimates accordingly.
These estimates were not applied as one flat number across Japan. They were adjusted by neighborhood and plot size to better reflect local land market conditions and price levels in each area.
This table should therefore be read as a structured market estimate for residential land in Japan, not as an exact guarantee of transaction prices. Honesty, quality, and rigor are at the core of our work, and they are also what you will find in our real estate pack about Japan.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our real estate pack about Japan, we rely on verifiable sources and a transparent methodology.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) | This is the official Japanese government land price survey, used as the national benchmark for land values. | We used the official published land prices as the core baseline for our Japan neighborhood estimates. We adjusted values to focus on residential-only plots and reflect actual market transactions. |
| National Tax Agency Land Valuation | This is the Japanese government tax authority dataset, used nationwide for street-level land valuations. | We cross-referenced street-level valuations to refine our neighborhood-level estimates. We used this data to validate relative price differences between Japan districts. |
| Japan Real Estate Institute | This is a major institutional research body focused on Japanese real estate data and transaction trends. | We used their transaction-based indices to understand actual market pricing trends in Japan. We triangulated their averages with MLIT government data for accuracy. |
| REINS (Real Estate Information Network System) | This is Japan's official real estate transaction database, recording actual completed deals across the country. | We used transaction-level data to understand how Japan land prices are distributed. We used this source to validate median values across neighborhoods. |
| Mitsui Fudosan Realty | Mitsui Fudosan is one of the leading real estate brokerages in Japan with deep transaction data. | We used their transaction insights to estimate median plot prices in Japan neighborhoods. We also used their reports to define standard plot size conventions. |
| Sumitomo Real Estate Sales | Sumitomo is a major national brokerage firm with extensive listing and transaction records across Japan. | We used their listing and transaction data to estimate entry-level budgets for each neighborhood. We used this source to validate neighborhood demand levels across Japan. |
| Nomura Real Estate Urban Net | Nomura is an established real estate advisory firm that publishes detailed buyer behavior reports in Japan. | We used their reports to understand buyer behavior and land use patterns. We used this data to refine how we segmented Japan neighborhoods by market tier. |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Government | This is the official regional authority for Tokyo, publishing detailed land use and pricing data. | We used local land data to refine pricing for Tokyo neighborhoods specifically. We used this source to understand how infrastructure influences land prices in Tokyo. |
| Japan Property Central | This is a well-known English-language market analysis site that covers Japan real estate for international audiences. | We used their analysis for simplified context and foreign buyer perspectives. We triangulated their findings with official Japanese government datasets. |
| CBRE Japan | CBRE is a global real estate consultancy with a strong institutional research team covering Japan. | We used their institutional analysis for market segmentation across Japan. We used their reports to validate the split between premium and mid-tier land pricing. |
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